Research Results on the 2020·2022 Administrative Integration Released
Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, proposing the administrative integration plan for Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam last September. / Photo by Ryeong Lee ryeong@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Amid ongoing discussions about the administrative integration of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong), Gyeongsangnam-do announced research results on administrative integration conducted during the 7th and 8th local government terms on the 6th.
On this day, Gyeongnam Province released the “Basic Study on the Necessity of Administrative Integration of Busan and Gyeongnam (2020.12.31.)” and the “Effectiveness Analysis of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union (2022.8.31.).”
According to the province, during the 7th local government term, there were continuous controversies such as the concentration of Bu-Ul-Gyeong super-regional cooperation towards Busan, neglect of western Gyeongnam, the number of special union council members, and the location of the government office.
Therefore, in the 8th term, through commissioned research, they evaluated the practical benefits from Gyeongnam’s perspective regarding the super-regional development plan and are currently reviewing the role of the special union as a national growth axis to counterbalance the metropolitan area.
The province judged that the “Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union” for promoting the mega-city, based solely on the draft regulations, would find it difficult to achieve the initial goals of Bu-Ul-Gyeong.
Since the full revision of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union regulations and development plans, as well as special laws stipulating administrative and financial privileges, face difficult limitations in the promotion process, the province holds the view that pursuing administrative integration is more effective.
A provincial official stated, “Some media criticize that the report highlights only the advantages despite numerous shortcomings, but this is not true,” adding, “We have consistently explained that forming consensus with city and provincial residents is essential, and although administrative integration is not easy, it is a challenge that must be overcome.”
According to the province, the disadvantages of administrative integration presented in the report include ▲city and provincial administrative integration being a national issue that could lead to restructuring of the local autonomy system ▲possibility of objections from other local governments regarding financial support due to integration ▲potential for overall restructuring of the local autonomy system.
The province stated, “Since there are no legal grounds for integration between metropolitan local governments, it is necessary to establish special laws, amend the Local Autonomy Act, and secure sufficient support grounds for integrated local governments along with realizing local decentralization.”
They continued, “A mega-city refers to a single city, not the special union,” emphasizing, “Administrative integration does not contradict the current government’s national agenda, which includes strengthening cooperation among local governments and establishing and operating super-regional governments as practical tasks.”
Furthermore, they added that pursuing super-regional alliances is also possible through the establishment of integrated local governments via administrative integration.
A provincial official said, “Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon also agreed on integration,” and “Governor Park Wan-su of Gyeongnam has repeatedly stated that although pursuing administrative integration is a difficult and challenging path, it is a path that Bu-Ul-Gyeong must take.”
The province also claimed that the necessity of administrative integration was evident in related research conducted during the 7th local government term.
The official explained, “According to the report, metropolitan administration like the current special union can selectively perform necessary metropolitan affairs, but it may be unstable in terms of binding force and sustainability,” adding, “If conflicts of interest arise among residents of the two regions regarding cooperative affairs, it is difficult to effectively achieve the goals of metropolitan administration.”
They also pointed out, “Although the special local government system was introduced by the amendment of the Local Autonomy Act at the end of 2020, the lack of institutionalized financial support and economic incentives was identified as a serious problem.”
According to the province, the report viewed limitations such as ▲difficulty in agreeing on resource sharing ▲concentration of benefits in specific areas through metropolitan affairs ▲violation of the benefit principle of local tax burdens and conflicts, since operating and project costs of decision-making and executive bodies must be borne independently when promoting cooperative affairs through regulations.
As advantages of administrative integration, it was noted that even if metropolitan local governments are integrated, existing city, county, and district basic local governments and councils are maintained, so there is no change in administrative functions that satisfy resident participation and preferences.
Moreover, advantages include ▲ability to focus on larger-scale metropolitan affairs ▲expansion of authority and responsibility of city, county, and district governments ▲elimination of redundant supply and investment of public goods ▲maximization of economic effects ▲internalization and efficiency improvement regarding development and service supply issues in city and provincial border areas, and utilization and conservation of various resources.
From the perspective of achieving the goal of forming the Southeast region mega-city, considering the connectivity of industry and employment structures and the expansion of overlapping living areas, the report projected significant benefits from administrative integration.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
